With as many as 1,000 pets from 38 shelters around New Mexico, this weekend’s FETCH-apalooza is sure to be the state’s biggest adoption event—and maybe the biggest ever. And while bigger isn’t necessarily always better, you have to applaud a statewide effort like this, which is a particular boon for smaller shelters that don’t have the resources to host their own events. “Some shelter directors were in tears” when contacted about participating, says James Hallinan, program director, Animal Welfare Department for City of Albuquerque. According to Hallinan, this mega adoption event is just one important step toward reducing the number—maybe as many as 90,000 —pets euthanized in New Mexico every year.

For folks in the area who need more incentive to attend than cute critters, there will be plenty of pet-themed, palooza-style action, including (but certainly not limited to) training and grooming classes, Agility and weight-pull demos, author appearances by the likes of Jake Page, storytelling for children, pet CPR, family-pet portraits, and booths galore.

FETCH-apalooza runs from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday, April 25 and 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday, April 26, at the Albuquerque Journal Campus, 7777 Jefferson NE.